Reading Portion: 1 Kings 18:16-22
Once Obadiah became the messenger of Elijah, to King Ahab, he is seen no more on the scene. GOD uses us to be His messengers to bring glory to Him. Obadiah can be compared to John the Baptist, who came to make the way for JESUS. Though it seems small in our eyes, every minute thing that He entrusts us with, must be used for His glory alone.
When Elijah met King Ahab, he greeted Elijah with a question: “Is that you, O troubler of Israel?” Ahab was not ready to take up his sin, instead he wanted to put the blame on Elijah. People who do wrong/sin always puts the blame on others. They don’t have enough courage to accept the fact that what they did is wrong. From Ahab’s point of view, Elijah was the one who angered the sky god Baal and as a result, Baal withdrew rain and caused all the troubles. If Ahab had an attitude to read the word of GOD, he could have found the reason behind the situation. Sin blinds and holds us back from reading the word of GOD. Elijah boldly defended his argument by pointing out the fault of Ahab and his family. He gained the courage to speak boldly when GOD was training him in the wildernesses. GOD has a purpose for the wilderness in our life. He trains, molds and makes us bold to stand with courage, against the ungodly practices of this world.
To bring the people back to GOD, Elijah’s task was to prove what true worship is. A man who is zealous for GOD tries to restore the true meaning of worship. Elijah invited all the priests of Baal and Asherah. The ratio here is 1:950. When GOD is with you, the enemy’s number doesn’t have a say. GOD wants to expose fake worship, to cut it off from the nation. The people may not support the zealous man to restore true worship. The people kept silent to Elijah’s question, “How long will you falter between two opinions? If the LORD is GOD, follow Him; but if Baal, follow him.” How long will it take for us to turn back to GOD? How many more sermons and prophecies do we need, to get right with GOD? Or how long will we stick onto the path of worldly desires and forget the mercies of the LORD?
Elijah stood alone. Though you are all alone, stand for the truth. The people may have murmured against Elijah when he posed this question: “You are the only one who still sticks onto these old teachings. You are the only one who still wants to worship GOD in the old fashion. You are the only one who doesn’t like to adapt modern styles into church worship.” Though the people may spread rumors against us, keep calm. Stand for the LORD with a clear conscience.
The zealous man is always alone. He may have none for support, but he has GOD by his side to stand alone and to prove who the real GOD is.
A zealous man has a call from above, and GOD will bring him to the light at His appointed time, even if he has to stand alone.
